An excerpt from ALADDIN AND
THE WONDERFUL LAMP...complete script available HERE:
Early in the play,
Scheherezade is challenged by the King to mesmerize him with a story, or else
she will be banished. Here, she
sets her plan into action.
SCHEHEREZADE: And I will
need the help of everyone in the court to act out the story as I tell it!
KING: Everyone?
SCHEHERZADE: Not you, Your
Majesty, you just sit back and relax and let Sceherezade take care of
everything!
KING: Yes. Well. Go on. Tell the
story of Aladdin.
SCHEHEREZADE: Once upon a
time...
KING: (rising, angrily) WAIT!
IÕVE HEARD THAT STORY!
BANISH HER!
SCHEHEREZADE: No, no, Your
Majesty. All good stories have to
begin with ÒOnce upon a time...Ó
KING: (pause) I knew that. (sits)
SCHEHEREZADE: So...Once
upon a time, in the ancient land of China, there was a boy of seventeen named
Aladdin...Now, who among you can play the part of Aladdin?
THE ACCOUNTANT: (a runty
juvenile) Is Aladdin intelligent?
SCHEHEREZADE: Not really,
no.
THE CHANCELLOR (a
pompous blowhard) Is Aladdin brave
and fearless?
SCHEHEREZADE: Not
especially.
MUSICIAN: Is Aladdin cute?
SCHEHEREZADE: Oh, yes. Aladdin is definitely cute.
MUSICIAN: I can do cute.
SCHEHEREZADE: Then you will
be Aladdin!
The Musician, hereafter referred to as ÒAladdin,Ó steps proudly to the forefront, congratulated by the rest of the group.